Thanks to Penguin Publishers/Viking for providing an advance review copy of The Healing Season of Pottery, along with The Rainfall Market and The Marigold Mind Laundry.
First Impressions and Overview
When broken pottery is repaired with gold in the Japanese art of kintsugi, the cracks become part of its beauty. In her graceful debut novel, Yeon Somin approaches human healing with similar artistry – showing how our broken places can be mended with care, time, and the right kind of attention.
The Healing Season of Pottery follows Jungmin, a burnt-out broadcast writer who abruptly quits her job and retreats into isolation. After months as a recluse, she stumbles upon Soyo Workshop while searching for coffee in her neighborhood near Seoul. What begins as an accidental visit evolves into a journey of self-discovery through pottery, as Jungmin finds herself drawn into the workshop’s warm community of artists and students.
Writing Style and Literary Craftsmanship
Yeon’s prose has a meditative quality that mirrors the contemplative nature of working with clay. Her writing style is refreshingly understated—she trusts readers to sit with moments of silence and introspection rather than filling every space with exposition. The author demonstrates particular skill in sensory details:
“As the coffee was served, its aroma crawled in amidst the smell of clay that hung in the air. In an instant, the space filled with a scent that she couldn’t describe in words. That harmony between the smell of clay and coffee. It was an aroma she’d never imagined before, but it wasn’t bad. The physiological judgments of the nose—sweet, bitter, fishy—were preceded by an emotional judgment: “harmless.” For Jungmin, highly sensitive to smell, it wasn’t often she trusted her emotions over her nose.”
These sensory touchpoints ground us in the physical experience while hinting at deeper emotional resonance. The translation by Clare Richards maintains this delicate balance, carrying over the original Korean text’s poetic qualities without sacrificing clarity.
Character Development and Relationships
The Workshop Community
One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its lovingly crafted ensemble cast. The Soyo Workshop becomes a microcosm of healing and growth, populated by characters who are all wrestling with their own forms of brokenness:
- Johee, the workshop owner carrying grief for her late husband
- Jihye, struggling to find direction in her career and life
- Jun, a talented young artist torn between family expectations and personal passion
- Gisik, seeking to build something authentic despite others’ skepticism
The evolving dynamics between these characters feel natural and earned. Particularly compelling is the slow-burn romance between Jungmin and Gisik, which develops with a gentleness that mirrors the patience required in pottery-making.
The Protagonist’s Journey
Jungmin’s character arc is masterfully rendered. Her initial emotional numbness thaws gradually through learning pottery, making the eventual breakthrough moments more impactful. The author resists the temptation to rush her healing, showing instead how recovery often comes in fits and starts:
“Like this, the thirty blocks of clay were lumped together over and over, until all that remained were two pieces. With Johee’s help, Jungmin had pinched in the end of one and actually made it look like a vase. The other was a wide, shallow bowl. Though they could never compare to Jun’s perfectly molded works, or Gisik’s creatively designed ones, Jungmin was satisfied. She was beginning to find her center.”
Themes and Symbolism
The Metaphor of Clay
The central metaphor of pottery-making proves rich ground for exploring themes of transformation and self-discovery. Clay must be centered before it can be shaped; it requires both firmness and gentleness; it can be reformed countless times before firing. These qualities create natural parallels to personal growth and healing.
Time and Seasonality
The novel’s structure follows the changing seasons, with each section reflecting different stages of emotional development. This attention to natural cycles emphasizes how healing cannot be rushed – like clay in a kiln, it requires the right conditions and timing.
Minor Critiques
While the novel’s gentle pacing generally serves the story well, some readers may find the middle section slightly meandering. A few subplots, particularly involving secondary characters’ backstories, could have been more fully developed or omitted for tighter narrative focus.
Additionally, the resolution of Jungmin’s family conflict feels somewhat abbreviated compared to the careful development of other story elements. A deeper exploration of this reconciliation might have provided more emotional satisfaction.
Cultural Context and Universal Appeal
Though firmly grounded in contemporary Korean culture, The Healing Season of Pottery explores universal themes that will resonate with readers globally. The novel offers fascinating glimpses into Korean pottery traditions while keeping its focus on the human elements that transcend cultural boundaries.
The book joins a growing category of contemplative Asian literature exploring themes of healing and community, alongside works like Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World by Laura Imai Messina.
Final Thoughts
The Healing Season of Pottery is a quietly powerful novel about the restorative power of art and community. While it may not appeal to readers seeking fast-paced plots, those willing to slow down and sink into its meditative rhythms will find much to appreciate.
Yeon Somin has crafted a debut that, like well-made pottery, finds beauty in simplicity and strength in careful attention to craft. The novel reminds us that healing isn’t always about dramatic breakthroughs—sometimes it comes through the steady practice of showing up, day after day, willing to try again.
Recommended for:
- Readers who enjoyed What You Are Looking For Is In The Library by Michiko Aoyama, The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (for its cozy community feel), Before the Coffee Gets Cold or The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World
- Anyone interested in art therapy or mindfulness practices
- Those seeking gentle, character-driven stories about healing and community
- Fans of contemporary Korean literature
- Anyone going through burnout or major life transitions
The Healing Season of Pottery will be published by Penguin Publishers/Viking in January 2025.
